Chapter 611: Want to Sell Jia Zhangshi's Xiao Dang

After Xiao Dang left, those idle women performed a split-second change of face, spitting contemptuous saliva at her retreating back.

Over the years, the series of self-destructive acts by the two widows, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, finally drove the Jia family to the point of being despised by everyone.

"What the hell, still talking about rotating rest? I spit."

"I, an old woman, have lived this long and never heard of rotating rest."

"Maybe she got fired, worried about losing face, so she made up some nonsense we don't know to fool us."

"I have to say."

The neighbors' perception of the Jia family.

Still accurate.

One sentence.

Hit the nail on the head.

"Gou Niang's words are spot on; I'm sure she got fired. If you don't believe me, go ask the head of the household—who's ever heard of 'rotating rest'?"

"If she was fired, why is she still buying stewed meat and white steamed buns? Shouldn't she be wearing a mourning face?"

"What kind of character do the Jias have? We've known them for years; it's typical stubbornness like a dead duck's hard beak, just saving face, forcing smiles to avoid gossip—no wonder they got fired."

Holding the thought that if you're unhappy, we're happy.

The women suddenly shifted the topic from Xiao Dang's firing to whether she had become a widow.

"Xiao Dang says she's doing badly and ran back, but I think something's off."

"I get what you mean—you mean Xiao Dang's husband died."

The women present.

All had that knowing expression.

It seemed as if they had let go of everything.

The Jia family also has a nickname behind their backs, coined by the neighbors out of respect for the old widow Jia Zhangshi and the young widow Qin Huairu, specifically for the Jia widows.

A widow clan, also called the Siheyuan Jia double widows.

They guessed that Xiao Dang's claim of sneaking back because she was doing poorly was a false lie, meant to fool the Siheyuan neighbors.

The truth is that the man Xiao Dang married died, she became a widow, couldn't get by in the countryside, and returned to the city.

Worried that the widow's reputation would be bad.

She fabricated an excuse of sneaking back.

A dead husband and sneaking back are two different concepts.

In a moment.

The women then seemed to find their own topics and chatted enthusiastically.

Jia Zhangshi's husband died, she became a widow; Qin Huairu's husband died, she became a widow; the Jia family's daughter Xiao Dang's husband died, she also became a widow.

This confirmed the fact that the Jia family is a widow clan.

"Do you think Huaihua will become a widow after she marries?"

"Children born into a widow clan—how could they not be widows?"

"I think it's enough; Huaihua's father is Yi Zhonghai, not Jia Dongxu."

"Even if it were Zhang Zhonghai, she'd still have to become a widow—her mother is Qin Huairu after all."

"So you're saying the Jias can't shake off their widow reputation?"

"Forget it—guess when Bangeng will die."

"Bangeng? He died? When did he die? If Bangeng dies, the Jia family will be completely extinct."

The atmosphere on site.

Became lively.

In the past, Jia Zhangshi would swagger around the Siheyuan, cursing the neighbors with foul words, shouting 'dead extinct' on the left and 'dead extinct' on the right, and eventually the Jia family became extinct.

This is the retribution for Jia Zhangshi's rotten mouth.

"Do you think this is Jia Zhangshi's curse? A perfectly fine Jia family, ruined by her into this state."

"Don't talk nonsense, Bangeng is fine."

"Just because they're fine now doesn't mean they'll stay fine—Old Jia married Jia Zhangshi and died; Jia Dongxu married Qin Huairu and died; Jia Bangeng married a wife and will surely die too."

"Cough cough cough!"

The women who heard the signal.

Immediately changed their tone.

One of the women even turned her head and greeted Qin Huairu.

"Hey, Qin Huairu, are you off work?"

"Off work." Qin Huairu replied with a smile, "Who's sitting here chatting?"

Deep down, I didn't expect these people to pay attention to me.

I knew they didn't really like the Jia family.

"What are we chatting about? Pure nonsense. Hey, Qin Huairu, Xiao Dang just came back, bought some stewed meat and a big white steamed bun—does your Jia family have some good news? Could it be that thing Bangeng's grandma told us about last time actually came true?"

Earlier.

Jia Zhangshi, because Xiao Dang works at Bai Xu.

She thought the Jia family had prestige.

In the Siheyuan, she looked down on people with her chin and boasted arrogantly.

She said their Jia family's Xiao Dang, though a married woman with a child, is still in high demand.

She said she had already asked a matchmaker to find a partner for Xiao Dang, requiring the man to have a job, a house, no parents-in-law, no brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law.

The neighbors said that, but they weren't sincerely wishing blessings for the Jia Family.

They were just looking for excitement, deliberately bringing up the matter to see how Qin Huairu would respond.

I don't know either; it was all made by her grandmother. I'll go ask. You sit and chat, I'm leaving.

Qin Huairu chuckled, swayed her big hips, and walked into the Siheyuan, pondering as she went.

Could it be that Jia Zhangshi really arranged a marriage for Xiao Dang?

That won't do.

I may be lacking, but I'm still Xiao Dang's birth mother; what right does Jia Zhangshi have to bypass me and arrange a marriage for Xiao Dang?

Even if arrangements are made, they should be Qin Huairu's.

Even guessing with her toes, Qin Huairu could figure out what scheme Jia Zhangshi was hatching.

Besides money.

There's no other explanation.

She hardened her heart.

Last time, for money, she forced Xiao Dang to leave home; this time, for money again, she's trying to get Xiao Dang's idea—does she really think I, Qin Huairu, have no temper?

Even if this succeeds, Qin Huairu will have to sabotage it for her.

Old immortal old bastard.

Something that should have died early.

Swearing, Qin Huairu saw the Jia Family gate open, walked straight in, glanced around the interior, saw stewed meat and white steamed buns on the table, confirming the neighbors' claim that the Jia Family had good news; otherwise there'd be no explanation for the meat and buns.

Inside, she didn't see Jia Zhangshi's figure, not knowing what the manure-making machine was off doing.

Nor did she worry.

To Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi had better never come back in her lifetime.

To avoid trouble.

She saw Xiao Dang sitting silently on a stool, lost in thought, and called out.

"Xiao Dang."

Xiao Dang, immersed in thought, didn't hear Qin Huairu's call and remained motionless.

Qin Huairu grew a little worried, waved her hand in front of Xiao Dang's eyes; seeing Xiao Dang's eyeballs not move at all, she tapped Xiao Dang's shoulders a few times.

The force of the tapping summoned Xiao Dang's wandering spirit back into her body.

Xiao Dang stared with two blank, lifeless eyes at Qin Huairu, murmuring unconsciously: "I'm fine, nothing's wrong."

Qin Huairu sighed inwardly.

Can't she tell whether something's wrong or not?

Xiao Dang's appearance clearly shows something's up, her brows furrowed.

Clearly this matter is not trivial.

She guessed Xiao Dang disliked the man Jia Zhangshi had mentioned, yet didn't know how to refuse Jia Zhangshi, so she stayed home acting foolish.

She was so worried she didn't even go to work.

Jia Zhangshi.

You really are creating evil.

Had I known Jia Zhangshi would make Xiao Dang suffer, I should have slapped her more last night.

Qin Huairu casually put her shoulder bag on the table, grabbed a stool, sat opposite Xiao Dang, took Xiao Dang's hands in both of hers, looked at her, and began earnestly giving Xiao Dang ideological guidance.

Xiao Dang, if you have anything, tell Mom. In our Jia Family, I am your reliance. Back then, I was wrong—I didn't consider your feelings, only thinking your brother Bangeng must come to no harm and the Jia Family must not lose its line. I made mistakes that ruined your whole life. After Huaihua ran away, Mom reflected seriously and realized she wasn't a competent mother. From today on, I promise you, no one will dare force you to do what you don't want, not even your grandmother.

Xiao Dang lifted her head.

Looking at Qin Huairu.

She seemed moved.

"Just now at the gate, I ran into a neighbor from the courtyard who said our Jia Family has good news—could it be that your grandmother's matter succeeded? Mom now wants to ask you, what do you really think?"

Xiao Dang was somewhat taken aback.

Not understanding what Qin Huairu meant by that matter—if Jia Zhangshi had ruined Xiao Dang's work, then Jia Zhangshi really succeeded.

Worried that Qin Huairu wasn't referring to this.

Simply, Qin Huairu cleared up Xiao Dang's doubts.

"Your grandmother once bragged to the neighbors in the courtyard, saying many people were inquiring about you, wanting to befriend you. Seeing you with stewed meat and white steamed buns, they guessed your marriage might be settled. Mom just came in, saw your worried face, and wonders if you're dissatisfied with this marriage. Don't worry—if you're dissatisfied, you're dissatisfied; no one can force you to agree unless they step over my Qin Huairu's body."

Her tone turned sincere.

"You've been married once and weren't happy; if you remarry, you must open your eyes wide, not worry about my and your grandmother's feelings—it's you who will spend a lifetime with someone, not me and your grandmother. You decide for yourself; no one will kick you out of the Jia Family for disagreeing with this marriage. Mom guarantees this won't happen."

Xiao Dang blinked.

She let out a soft sigh.

What Qin Huairu said was about this matter.

The earlier remarks.

For Xiao Dang, it wasn't completely without gain.

Suddenly she had another idea in mind.

As the saying goes, the enemy's enemy is one's friend.

The tiny Jia Family now has only three people, yet all three are hostile to each other.

Jia Zhangshi resents Qin Huairu and bears a grudge against Xiao Dang; Qin Huairu bears a grudge against Jia Zhangshi and Xiao Dang; Xiao Dang in turn hates Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

Then Xiao Dang's idea was to use the stewed meat and white steamed buns to mock Jia Zhangshi thoroughly, letting Jia Zhangshi know she had successfully nullified her own granddaughter's work; the meat and buns were a reward for Jia Zhangshi, to encourage her to continue.

But after hearing Qin Huairu's words, Xiao Dang had a new idea.

Talking back to Jia Zhangshi, beating Jia Zhangshi up, can only make Jia Zhangshi resent oneself more.

It cannot achieve a lasting effect.

The neighbors all say whether the Siheyuan is chaotic, the Jia Family decides, whether the Jia Family is chaotic, Jia Zhangshi decides; Jia Zhangshi is the biggest troublemaker of the Jia Family and even the entire Siheyuan, many things happen because of Jia Zhangshi.

If the Siheyuan had no Jia Zhangshi, it would be much more peaceful.

Even without Jia Zhangshi, the Jia Family wouldn't have fallen to this state.

Initially the family had saved over a thousand, almost two thousand, but Jia Zhangshi managed to make it disappear.

She hates Qin Huairu.

But she hates Jia Zhangshi even more.

"Mom."

"Huh?"

"Do you hate my grandmother?"

Qin Huairu fell silent.

Facing Xiao Dang's question, she didn't know how to answer.

Saying she doesn't hate.

Even Qin Huairu herself doesn't believe it, and Xiao Dang would believe it even less.

Saying she hates.

Worrying about her own old-age support.

Raising children to guard against old age.

Given that Bangeng is unreliable and Huaihua has run away from home, Qin Huairu can only pin her old-age hopes on Xiao Dang, worrying that her own disrespectful behavior toward Jia Zhangshi will cause Xiao Dang to imitate her, and then, like Qin Huairu beating Jia Zhangshi, Xiao Dang would beat Qin Huairu, which would be a loss not worth the gain.

She hesitated.

She thought for over ten seconds.

A sigh escaped her mouth.

"Ah!"

This matter.

Really can't give a concrete answer; who let her, in order to move to the city, make a wrong decision that ruined her whole life.

Fate.

This is fate.

Her speechless appearance seemed to confirm Xiao Dang's guess.

She laughed a little.

"Mom, I'm just like you; I also hate my grandmother."

"Xiao Dang, you."

Xiao Dang waved her hand to interrupt Qin Huairu's narration; she looked at Qin Huairu and said word by word: "I am your daughter, Qin Huairu; I remember everything from childhood; everything in the house was first given to my older brother; after my brother finished eating, it was my grandmother; I, you, and Huaihua ate the leftovers that others didn't want; even so, my grandmother kept calling me and Huaihua a money-losing good-for-nothing."

She let out a breath.

Her emotions eased a little.

"It's you who protected me and Huaihua, not doing anything wrong as parents, only falling short as children; no matter what I become, I am still your daughter, Qin Huairu, and I will take responsibility for your old-age support."

"Xiao Dang."

But I won't take responsibility for my grandmother's old-age support; I don't know if you've noticed, but many people around are saying my grandmother ruined our Jia Family; her mouth is hated by people and dogs; I suddenly had an idea: if our Jia Family had no grandmother, life would surely be much better; the good days of our Jia Family were ruined by my grandmother.

Qin Huairu stared at Xiao Dang, speechless.

Never expected Xiao Dang would say such fierce words to me.

My point is, my grandmother is not suited to stay in our Jia Family; if she stays longer, who knows what state our Jia Family will fall into; my brother going in there is the best proof that my grandmother ruined the Jia Family; there is no good grandmother who teaches her own grandson to steal, except my grandmother.

Xiao Dang brought her mouth.

She glanced toward Qin Huairu's ear.

She shouted out her plan.

Qin Huairu was scared; she never expected Xiao Dang to come up with the idea of selling Jia Zhangshi.